Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena has reiterated Buddhist links with Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, in a congratulatory message following the party’s electoral victory last week.
“It is indeed a personal achievement for you and your party in the peaceful struggle for democracy over the years in your country,” said Mr Sirisena.
“Sri Lanka and Myanmar share long standing relations which is underpinned by Theravada Buddhism and had been nurtured by frequent exchange of pilgrims and people to people contacts,” he added.
The president’s message comes after his visit to Thailand earlier this month, where he also pledged to uphold Buddhist relations with the country.
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticised for failing to speak on the Rohingya issue, but with US backed economic sanctions on the country, it will be a critical issue for the new parliament to address.
The Rohinyga, who have long faced persecution at the hands of extremist groups from the majority Buddhist population, are denied citizenship and the right to vote. A recent report from the International State Crime Initiative at the Queen Mary University of London found that there was substantial evidence that the Rohinyga population are facing state-sponsored genocide.
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